Rabbi Levin's Blog

“Ma Tovu Ohalecha Yaakov…” – How goodly are your tents, Jacob, your dwelling places, Israel.  These famous words are the evil prophet Bilaam’s reluctant blessing to the Jewish people.  There are several ways to explain his blessing.  He saw how the opening of the tents were placed so as to ensure privacy, and he was moved by the modesty that is one of the hallmarks of the Jewish people.  Another explanation is that he was foreseeing the synagogues and Torah study halls of the future.   I want to venture a guess that he would also be impressed by the way we open our homes to guests.  Hachnasat Orchim – bringing guests into the home –  is a value that we have going back to our forefather Avraham.  It is one of the pillars of the great Mitzvah of Gemilut Chasadim, acts of kindness.  Another crucial part of that Mitzvah is Bikur Cholim – visiting (or caring for) the sick.  How great is it then when both of these Mitzvot are bundled together! I am therefore gratified that this week, the wee

The third of Tamuz!  It is a day marked all over the world as a day of reflection and celebration of a leader unmatched in recent history.  The 29 th Yartzeit (anniversary of passing) of the saintly Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Schneerson is today, Thursday.   There are thousands of articles, videos, books and stories written about his remarkable life and his unprecedented impact on a world shattered by the Holocaust and assimilation.  I would imagine that you have seen some of the ubiquitous stories today, and you can read a lot more here .    What more is there to add?  I just want to talk about some personal reflections and experiences.  I spent several years studying in the Yeshiva in Crown Heights Brooklyn where I merited to see and pray with the Rebbe almost every day.  I attended over 100 Farbrengens (Chassidic gatherings) that he led.  I had the great merit to see him personally a few times in a meeting known as “Yechidus” – private audience, and many times I received his blessing an

Twelve Jewish leaders were handpicked by Moshe to go and scout out the land of Canaan. Hashem promised to give the land to the Jews, and their job was to figure out the best way to approach this on the ground. Although Hashem promised miracles, we also need to do our part using natural means.    Though they witnessed the ten plagues in Egypt, the miraculous Exodus, the splitting of the sea and the revelation at Sinai, ate heavenly bread and drank water from a rock, ten of the scouts said that conquering the land can’t be done. “But the men who went up with him said, ‘We are unable to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.’” (Shemot 13:31)   The Hebrew word for “than we” is “mimenu” which can also be translated as “than him.”  The Talmud says that they were saying - as shocking as it sounds - that the people of the land are too strong for Hashem to overcome. As the Talmud says (Sotah 35a): “it was as if the owner of the house (referring to Hashem) could not take his ut

Retirement.  Is it a good idea?  Should there be a mandatory retirement age?  There are countries that require mandatory retirement based on age, and there are others that allow a person to work as long as he or she is able to do the job.  Does the Torah have a position on retirement?    Well the Torah does address this subject, and it seems that there is indeed mandatory retirement based on age: “The Lord spoke to Moses saying. This is [the rule] concerning the Levites: From the age of twenty-five years and upwards, he shall enter the service to work in the Tent of Meeting. From the age of fifty he shall retire from the work legion, and do no more work.” (Bamidbar 8:23-25.)   But a closer look shows that it’s not so straight-forward.  The next verse says: “He shall minister with his brethren in the Tent of Meeting to keep the charge, but he shall not perform the service...”   What does this mean?  Does he work or does he not work after 50?   The meaning of these verses is as follows: